Maria of Montferrat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maria |
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Coronation of Maria and John, 13th-century miniature
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| Queen of Jerusalem with John (1210-1212) |
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| Reign | April 1205 – 1212 |
| Coronation | 3 October 1210, Tyre |
| Predecessor | Isabella I |
| Successor | Isabella II |
| Born | 1192 Tyre, Kingdom of Jerusalem |
| Died | 1212 (aged 19–20) |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Isabella II of Jerusalem |
| House | Aleramici |
| Father | Conrad of Montferrat |
| Mother | Isabella I of Jerusalem |
Maria of Montferrat (born 1192, died 1212) was the queen of Jerusalem from 1205 until her death. Her parents were Isabella I and Conrad of Montferrat. Maria became queen after her mother passed away. Because she was young, her half-uncle John of Ibelin ruled the kingdom for her as a regent. Later, her husband, John of Brienne, ruled on her behalf. Maria married John in 1210. She died when she gave birth to her daughter, Isabella II. Isabella II then became the next queen.
Maria's Early Life
Maria was born in 1192 in Tyre. Her mother was Queen Isabella I of Jerusalem. Maria was named after her grandmother, Maria Komnene. Her father was Conrad of Montferrat. He was a powerful nobleman. Maria was sometimes called La Marquise because of her father's title.
Maria's father died in 1192. Soon after, her mother, Isabella, married Henry II, Count of Champagne. Henry became Maria's stepfather. Maria had two half-sisters from this marriage: Alice and Philippa. Later, Henry died, and Maria's mother married King Aimery. Maria remained her mother's main heir. This meant she was next in line to become queen.
Becoming Queen
Queen Isabella I died in April 1205. Maria was only 13 years old at the time. She became the new queen of Jerusalem. Since Maria was so young, someone needed to rule the kingdom for her. This person was called a regent. John of Ibelin became Maria's regent. He was her half-uncle. John of Ibelin was a very important and wealthy lord in the Kingdom of Jerusalem. He ruled the kingdom peacefully for Maria for three years.
When Maria was older, people started looking for a husband for her. They wanted a strong leader to help her rule the kingdom. It was hard to find the right person. Finally, in 1210, King Philip II of France helped find a husband. He chose a knight named John of Brienne. John was not rich, but he was a respected leader.
John arrived in Acre on September 13, 1210. Acre was the capital of the kingdom at that time. The city of Jerusalem had been captured by Muslims in 1187. Maria and John were married the next day. Their coronation ceremony happened on October 3 in the Cathedral of Tyre.
Maria's Death and Legacy
Queen Maria died in 1212. She passed away after giving birth to her daughter, Isabella II. Maria's death meant that her young daughter, Isabella, became the new queen. John of Brienne, Maria's husband, continued to rule the kingdom. He ruled on behalf of his infant daughter, Isabella II.
Maria's family line ended in 1268. This was when her great-grandson, Conrad III, died. After that, the kingdom was passed to the descendants of Maria's half-sister, Alice.
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